Apparatus for twisting and plying strands



Oct. 28, 1958 A. w. VIBBER 2,857,730

APPARATUS FOR TWISTING AND PLYING STRANDS Filed Dec. 4, 195a 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.

Oct. 28, 1958 A. W. VIBBER APPARATUS FOR TWISTING AND FLYING STRANDS Filed Dec. 4. 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Oct. 28, 1958 A. w. VIBBER 2,857,730

APPARATUS FOR TWISTING AND PLYING STRANDS Filed Dec. 4, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

w Mama United States Patent G APPARATUS FUR TWISTING AND FLYING STRANDS Alfred W. Vibber, Ridgewood, N. J.

Application December 4, 1956, Serial No. 626,115

20 Claims. (Cl. 57-58.3)

This invention relates to an apparatus for twisting and/or plying strands, and particularly relates to appa'ratus for plying strands together by rotating one strand about a source of supply of another strand by a revolving shaft, and plying the strands together beyond such source of the other strand.

The invention has among its objects the provision of novel mechanism for detecting variations in the tension in the loop or balloon of a strand at a twisting and/ or plying spindle.

Another object of the invention is the provision of improved strand applying mechanism incorporating the above indicated strand loop or balloon tension detecting means and mechanism controlled thereby to maintain such loop or balloon within a predetermined desired size range.

Yet another object of the invention resides in the provision of strand-plying apparatus of the type indicated, wherein the speed of the plied strand is varied in accordance with tension variations in a run of a strand approaching the plying junction.

Yet another object of the'invention, in one preferred embodiment thereof, resides in the provision of apparatus as indicated in the preceding paragraph, wherein the speed of take-up of the plied strand is varied in accordance with tension variations in the loop or balloon.

The above and further objects of the invention relating to economies of manufacture and use of the apparatus and advantages thereof will more fully appear upon consideration of the following specification, and of the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a spindle for plying strands together to form a cord in accordance with the present invention, the spindle of Fig. l incorporating a first illustrated embodiment of mechanism for detecting variations in tension in the strand in the loop or balloon;

Fig. 2 is a view on a somewhat smaller scale of the spindle of Fig. l, the view being an end elevation and being taken in a direction from right to left in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view, partially in vertical section and partially in elevation, of the portion of the spindle of Fig. 2 in the vicinity of the plying shaft and the flier thereon;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view in side elevation of the spindle of Figs. 1 and 2, Fig. 4 showing the means for detecting variations in the tension of the strand in the loop or balloon, and the means responsive thereto for varying the speed of take-up of the plied strand; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view partially in vertical section and partially in elevation, similar to Fig. 3, showing a second embodiment of means for detecting variations in the tension of the strand in the loop or balloon, specifically for detecting such variations in tension by sensing or detecting variations in the diameter of the loop or balloon.

This application is acontinuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 261,704, filed December 14, 1951; Ser. No. 317,406, filed October 29, 1952; and application Ser. No. 361,999, filed June 16, 1953, now Patent No. 2,736,160.

2,857,730 Patented Oct. 28, 1958 The apparatus of the present invention is illustrated; herein in conjunction with apparatus of the type shown in. Clarkson Patents No. 2,689,449 and 2,729,051. The, basic structure of the spindle, being old in such Clarkson patents, is accordingly fairly briefly referred to herein. It. will, of course, be understood that the apparatus of the invention may be employed to advantage with other; types of plying spindles, the spindles shown in the ac,- companying drawings being merely illustrative of the: invention.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly toFig. 1, there is shown a spindle for plying two strands toe gether to from a cord, useful for example in automobile tires and V-belts, wherein such plying operation adds no twist to the respective strands. The spindle is'supported on a frame which is partially shown in-Fig; 1, which comprises a support having a side frame 10 and a longitudi--- nally extending beam 12. A-post 15 extends upwardly from the beam 12 and carries on its upper end a bracket having a guide pulley 82. thereon.

An outer yarn package B- is supported on a bracket which extends upwardly from the frame of the machine; and which rotatably supports a spindle 61 on which the package B is mounted. The package B is partly surrounded by a squirrel cage 62 which carries a guide pulley for guiding the yarn b from package B as it is deliveredtoward the cord-forming point or plying junction. From such guide pulley, the yarn b is led several times about a pair of driven yarnmetering rollers 69 and 70 which; pull the yarn from the package at a controlled rate. In theillustrative embodiment, rollers 69 and 70 are driven:

, from the main spindle shaft 52 through the medium of worm gear 104 on cross shaft 106,. such worm gear meshing with worm 105 on the main shaft 52. Shaft 106 serves to drive rollers 69 and 70 through the medium of chain 77 (Fig. 4), and also serves to drive the rollers 99 and 99 of the variable speed take-up means for the plied strand, to be described. Spindle 61 is driven by a motor 16 (Fig. 2) through the medium of pulley 114, belt 55, and pulley 54 on shaft. 52.

From the metering rollers 69 and 70, yarn b is ledv about a pulley 79 and thence upwardly to the pulley 80, from which it travels to the above mentioned pulley 82. Pulley 82 has its strand-delivering surface tangential to the central axis of the inner yarn package A and above the central axis of the loop or balloon formed inthe yarn b by rotation of the shaft 52 and of the flier 84 secured thereto.

From the pulley 82, the yarn b passes downwardly through the hollow shaft or spindle 220, which carries a yarn guide 224 at its lower end. Preferably shaft 220 is adjustably mounted on arm 81, being held in adjusted position by the lock nut 221. Upon leaving the guide 224, yarn b passes into its loop or balloon and thence past the inner package A and through a guide eyelet 85 fixed inthe outer periphery of the flier disc 84 which is secured to the rotatable hollow spindle 52. As spindle 52 is rotated, the flier disc 84 and the guide eyelet therein rotate: the yarn b between the flier and the guide 224 above the inner package to form a loop or balloon in the yarn above the inner package.

The inner package A has its cone 18 supported on a member which is rotatably supported on the spindle 52. Yarn a is led from the package A about the squirrel cage 29 to a roller 33 to be guided over the floating roller 35, and roller 33 to be fed to the laterally spaced metering rollers 40 and 41 which advanced the yarn a to the pulley 45 to be directed downwardly through the centerof the hollow rotating spindle 52..

As shown in Fig. l, roller 40 is positively driven from spindle 52 by means of a worm 56 secured to the spindle and meshing with the worm gear on the shaft bearing roll 40. Roller 41 is idle. The strand metering means made up of rollers 40 and 41, as is also the case of the metering means made up of rollers 69 and 70, are driven in synchronism with spindle 52, and tend to forward their respective strands at substantially constant speed.

The two strands, strand b passing radially inwardly from its loop or balloon, and strand a passing generally axially of spindle 52, meet at the plying junction or zone P and are united within the spindle 52. The resulting plied cord c thus formed is pulled downwardly out of the rotating spindle 52 to be wound on a package generally shown at 128. The speed of pulling of the cord away from the plying junction P is governed by a variable speed take-up mechanism to be described, such mechanism being under the control of apparatus for detecting variations in the tension of the strand b in the balloon.

To prevent the supporting structure 31 for the metering rolls 40 and 41 and their appurtenant mechanism from rotating as the spindle 52 is rotated, magnets 88 are aflixed to the supporting member which carries such non-rotating elements. As pointed out above, such supporting structure is rotatably mounted on the rotatable shaft 52. A cooperating annular magnet 89, positioned outside of the loop or balloon formed by the yarn b and opposite the magnets 88, cooperate with the magnets 88 to hold them and their appurtenant supporting mechanism in a fixed position in space.

After the strands a and b have been twisted together at the plying point P, the plied strand 0 travels downwardly within the hollow spindle 52 emerging therefrom and traveling partially around guide pulley 91 which is positioned on an axle located axially of the spindle. In Clarkson Patent No. 2,729,051 the tension in strand c in a loop thereof above pulley 91 is employed to vary the speed at which the plied strand c is taken up by the driven opposed tapered rolls 99 and 99 of the take-up mechanism. In the present invention, on the other hand, strand 0 proceeds directly from guiding pulley 91 to a further guiding pulley 93 positioned on the frame, and thence proceeds upwardly to travel between opposed parallel strand guiding fingers 14 at the upper end of arm 96. Lever 96, which constitutes one arm of a bell crank, is pivoted on the frame of the machine at 95. In accordance with the present invention, the other arm 94 of the bell crank, which lies generally horizontal, is turned about axis 95, thus to swing arm 96, by means responsive to variations in the tension of the strand b in the rotating loop or balloon. As will be apparent hereinafter, the means 94, 96, and the means responsive to tension of the strand in the loop are so constructed and arranged and so interrelated that as the tension in the strand b in the loop increases, or, in other words, as the tension in the radial run of strand b approaching the plying junction increases, arm 96 is made to swing to the left in Fig. 4, thereby to increase the speed of take-up of the plied strand 0 by rolls 99 and 99'. Conversely, when the tension in the strand b in the loop or balloon decreases, arm 96 swings to the right (Fig. 4), thereby to decrease the speed of take-up of the plied strand by the rolls 99 and 99'.

In the first illustrative embodiment of the invention, shown in Figs. 14, inclusive, the means for detecting changes in the tension in the strand b or the loop of the balloon, and thus of the radial run of strand b approaching the plying junction, takes the form of a shallow cup-like annular member 100, having an upper rim 101 which engages the generally radial run of strand b generally midway between the bottom end of eyelet 85 on flier 84 and the point of entry of such run of strand b into the hub of the flier. Preferably a small guide roller 102 is positioned on such hub above the radial run of strand b to prevent deflection of such run upwardly at such point. Annular member 100 is rotatably supported 4 in housing member 53 on the frame by means of ball bearing 103. The size and configuration of the annular member 100 is such that its upper rim portion 101 diverts the generally radial run of strand b from the straight line path between the bottom of eyelet and roller 102 on the hub of the flier.

It will be apparent that as tension in such radial run of strand b increases, the frictional force of engagement between the strand and the upper rim 101 of annular member increases, and that as tension in such radial portions of strand b decreases, such frictional engagement between the radial portion of the strand and portion 101 of the annular member 100 decreases. Annular member 100 has provided on the circular cylindrical portion thereof above ball bearing 103 an annular gear 104, which meshes with a gear 105', connected to the top of a vertical shaft 106, journaled upon the housing 53. Shaft 106' is rotatably secured in a pillow block 107 secured to the side of housing 53, and is resiliently urged to be rotated in the direction opposite from that in which it is driven by engagement between strand b and annular member 100 by a helical torsion spring 108 held in a housing 109 secured to casing 53 and surrounding the shaft 106' as shown. Preferably the initial tensioning of spring 108 is adjustable by means of the adjustable collar 110 secured to the upper end of the spring and adjustably secured to the shaft 106' by a set screw, as shown. It will be apparent that with a given initial torsional effect of spring 108, when a given desired tension exists in the generally radial portion of strand b the torque exerted upon annular member 100 by the radial run of the strand and the torsion exerted upon shaft 106' by torsion spring 108 will balance, thereby retaining shaft 106 in a nonrotatable condition. When the tension in such radial run of strand b increases, the vertical shaft 106 will rotate to tighten spring 108, thereby to establish a new position of balance of the shaft, and that when the tension in the radial run of strand b decreases the shaft will be turned in the opposite direction by torsion spring 108, thereby to arrive at still another balanced position thereof.

The turning of vertical shaft 106' therefore, gives an indication of tension .variations in the strand b in the rotating loop. As shown more clearly in Fig. 4, such rotation of the shaft is made to control the position of arm 96, thereby to alter the speed of take-up at the plied strand c in such manner as to restore the rotating loop or balloon to the desired diameter. A worm 111 is secured to the lower end of shaft 106'. Meshing with such worm is a Worm gear segment 112, secured to the free end of arm 94. The worm and gear segment are of such hand that when shaft 106' is rotated in the direction of the balloon, arm 96 is swung to the left, thereby to increase the speed of take-up of the plied strand, and that when shaft 106 is rotated by the torsion spring 108, arm 96 swings to the right, thereby to decrease the speed of take-up of the plied strand C.

It will be apparent from a consideration of Fig. 3 that should the tension in the composite generally straight run of strands made up of strand a above plying point P and of plied strand 0 below such plying point increase unduly, such vertical run of strand a functions as a core at the plying point P so that more of strand b than of strand a is absorbed into the plied strand c at the plying point. The converse is also true; if the tension in the radial run of strands b approaching plying point P markedly exceeds that in strand a approaching such point, strand b tends to function as a core so that more of strand a than strand b is absorbed into the plied strand 0. The variable take-up means 99, 99', functioning with rollers 40, 41 for leading strand a toward the plying point P, thus act as a means whereby the rate of absorption of strand b into the plied strand may be varied, or in other words, a means whereby the rate of withdrawal of strand b from loop or balloon may be varied.

"In Fig. 5 there is shown fragmentarily a second 'embodiment of the means for detecting changes in the tension in the strand b in the rotating loop or balloon. Parts in Fig. 5 which are the same as those in Fig. 3 are designated by the same reference characters. In such alternative construction the rotatable circular member employed to detect tension changes in the rotating loop or balloon, there designated 100, is generally of cupshape. Such circular member 100' is of a cup-like shape, of such depth and diameter as to contain the flier 84 therewithin, member 100 rising beyond the flier and then having its upper rim bent somewhat inwardly so as to'have an upper annular bead 101 which at least lightly engages the strand b of the loop or balloon when such loop or balloon is at its desired operative diameter.

It will be apparent that as the balloon increases in diameter the strand b thereof will engage rim 101' more forcibly, thereby tending to rotate member 100' in the direction of the balloon. Conversely, when the balloon decreases in diameter, the strand b thereof presses against annular rim 101 less forcibly, so that the torsion spring (not shown) similar to spring 108 of Fig. 3, acting upon shaft 106' will tend to turn member 100 in the direction opposite from the direction of rotation of the loop or balloon. The apparatus of Fig. 5, therefore, also controls the rate of take-up of the plied strand in the same manner as the apparatus of Figs. 14, inclusive. It will also be apparent that member 100' not only detects changes in diameter of the loop or balloon, but also detects changes in tension in the strand b, not only in the loop or balloon but also in the generally radial run thereof approaching the plying junction P.

Whereas I have shown and described preferred embodiments of the strand twisting and/or plying apparatus of the invention, it will be understood that such embodiments are illustrative only, and the invention is capable of numerous variations as to details.-

Thus, for example, the means for feeding the strand b into the loop or balloon may, instead of being rolls driven at a constant speed, be composed of strand-speed regulating means so controlled as to feed the strand at a higher speed when the loop increases in diameter and to feed the strand at a lower speed when the loop decreases in diameter. Among the various strand-speed regulating means suitable for this purpose, for example, are that disclosed in Figs. 1-5, inclusive, of applicants prior application Serial No. 317,406, filed October 29, 1952; that shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of applicants Patent No. 2,736,160; that shown in Figs. 1-3, inclusive, of applicants Patent No. 2,732,680; that shown in Figs. l-4, inclusive, of applicants Patent No. 2,728,185; that shown in applicants Patent No. 2,725,711; and those shown in Figs. 1 and 5 of applicants prior application Ser. No. 573,533, filed March 23, 1956, now abandoned.

I claim as new the following:

1. Mechanism for twisting together two strands so as to form a two-ply strand, comprising a source of supply of a first strand and a support carrying a let-off strand package for a second strand, a rotatable shaft operable to rotate a loop of the first strand about the let-off package and also to'ply the two strands together at a plying point, a first means for feeding the second strand at substantially constant speed to the plying point, a second means for feeding the plied strand away from the plying point at a variable speed, and means responsive to variations in the tension of one of the strands approaching the plying point for varying the second feeding means.

2. Mechanism for twisting together two strands so as to form a two-ply strand, comprising a source of supply of a first strand and a support carrying a let-off strand package for a second strand, a rotatable shaft operable to rotate a loop of the first strand about the let-off package and also to ply the two strands together at a plying point, a first means for feeding the second strand at substantially constant speed to the 'plying point, aser;- ond means for feeding the plied str'andfaway tram the plying point at 'a variable speed, and means responsive to variations in the tension of the first strand in the -portion thereof approaching the plying point for varying the second feeding means.

3. Mechanism for twisting together two strands was to form a two-ply strand, comprising a source of supply of a first strand and a support carrying a let-off strand package for a second strand, a rotatable shaft operable to rotate a loop of the first strand about the let-off package and also to ply the two strands together at a plying point, a first means for'feeding the second strand at substantially constant speed to the plying point, "a second means for feeding the plied strand away from the plying point at a variable speed, and means responsive to variations in the size of the loop for varying the second feeding means.

4. Mechanism for twisting together two strands so as to form a two-ply strand, comprising a source of supply of a first strand and a support carrying a let-off strand package for a second strand, a rotatable shaft operable to rotate a loop of the first strand about the let-off package and also to ply the two strands together at a plying point, a first means for feeding the second strand at substantially constant speed to the plying point, a second means for feeding the plied strand away from the plying point at a variable speed, and means responsive to variations in the diameter of the loop for varying the second feeding means. v p

5. Mechanism for twisting together two strands so as to form a two-ply strand, comprising a source of supply of a first strand and a support carrying a let-off strand package for a second strand, a rotatableshaft operable to rotate a loop of the first strand about the let-off package and also to ply the two strands together at a plying point, a first means for feeding the first strand at substantially constant speed into the loop, a second means for feeding the second strand at substantially constant speed to the plying point, a third means for feeding the plied strand away from the plying point at a variable speed, and means responsive to variations in the tension of one of the strands approaching the plying point for varying the third feeding means. I

6. Mechanism for twisting together two strands so as to form a two-ply strand, comprising a source of supply of a first strand and a support carrying a let-'off-stra'nd package for a second strand, a rotatable shaft operable to rotate a loop of the first strand about the let-off package and also to ply the two strands together at a plying point, a first means for feeding the first strand at substantially constant speed into the loop, a second means for feeding the second strand at substantially constant speed to the plying point, a third means for feeding the plied strand away from the plying point at a variable speed, and means responsive to variations in the tension of the first strand in the portion thereof approaching the plying point for varying the third feeding means.

7. Mechanism for twisting together two strands so as to form a two ply strand, comprising a source of supply of a first strand and a support carrying a let-off strand package for a second strand, a rotatable shaft operable to rotate a loop of the first strand about the let-01f package and also to ply the two strands together at a plying point, a first means for feeding the first strand at substantially constant speed into the loop, a second means for feeding the second strand at substantially constant speed to the plying point, a third means for feeding the plied strand away from the plying point at a variable speed, and means responsive to variations in the size of the loop for varying the third feeding means.

8. Mechanism for twisting together two strands so as to form a two-ply strand, comprising a source of supply of a first strand and a support carrying a let-0E strand v V 7 package for a second strand, a rotatable shaft operable to rotate a loop of the first strand about the let-off package and also to ply the two strands together at a plying point, a first means for feeding the first strand at substantially constant speed into the loop, a second means for feeding the second strand at substantially constant speed to the plying point, a third means for feeding the plied strand away from the plying point at a variable speed, and means responsive to variations in the diameter of the loop for varying the third feeding means.

9. Mechanism for twisting together two strands so as to form a two-ply strand, comprising a source of supply of a first strand and a support carrying a let-ofl strand package for a second strand, a rotatable shaft operable to rotate a loop of the first strand about the let-off package and also to ply the two strands together at a plying point lying generally on the axis of the shaft, a first means for feeding the second strand at substantially constant speed to the plying point, a second means for feeding the plied strand away from the plying point at :a variable speed, and rotatable means engaging the loop at a zone thereof and detecting variations in the tension of the first strand approaching the plying point for varying the second feeding means.

10. Mechanism for twisting together two strands as defined in claim 9 comprising a flier mounted on the shaft, said flier having strand guiding means which exposes a zone of the loop, and wherein the rotatable means is an annular member mounted coaxial of the shaft and engaging and deflecting from its normal path the strand in said exposed zone of the loop.

11. Mechanism for twisting together two strands as defined in claim 9 comprising a flier mounted on the shaft, and wherein the rotatable means is an annular member mounted coaxial of the shaft and engaging the loop at a zone radially outwardly beyond said flier.

12. Mechanism for twisting together two strands so as to form a two-ply strand, comprising a source of supply of a first strand and a support carrying a let-ofl strand package for a second strand, a rotatable shaft operable to rotate a loop of the first strand about the let-off package and also to ply the two strands together, loopengaging means for detecting changes in the shape of the loop, a first means for feeding the second strand to the junction where they are plied together, a second means for feeding the plied strand at a variable rate away from the plying junction, and means responsive to the loop shape-detecting means to vary the strand feeding rate of the second feeding means.

13. In apparatus for twisting a strand including a shaft having a flier for rotating a yarn strand in the form of a loop and means for pulling the strand forward, mechanism for controlling the size of the loop comprising a circular member rotatably supported near the flier and coaxial thereof and adapted to be turned in one direction by the revolving loop, means for yieldingly turning said member in the opposite direction, and means controlled by the rotation of said member for controlling the size of the loop.

14. Apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein the flier has strand guiding means and is so constructed as to expose a zone of the rotating strand between the guiding means and the axis of the shaft, and the circular 8 member engages and diverts the strand at said exposed zone.

15. Apparatus as defined in claim 13 wherein the member is annular and is positioned outside the loop.

16. Apparatus as defined in claim 15, wherein the annular member engages the loop outwardly of the flier.

17. Apparatus as defined in claim 16, comprising a generally cup-shaped body, said body having one end of reduced diameter journaled coaxial and radially outwardly of the shaft, said annular member constituting a part of the body adjacent the other end of the body.

18. Apparatus for twisting a strand comprising a shaft having a flier for rotating a yarn strand in the form of a loop, means for pulling the strand forward, mechanism for detecting changes in the size of the loop comprising a circular member rotatably supported near the flier and coaxial thereof and adapted to be turned in one direction by torque derived from the flier, and means responsive to changes in the tension in the strand in the loop for governing the amount of torque applied to the circular member by the flier, and mechanism for controlling the size of the loop comprising means for yieldingly turning said circular member in the direction opposite the direction of rotation of the flier, and means controlled by the rotation of said circular member for controlling the size of the loop.

19. Apparatus for twisting a strand comprising a shaft having a flier for rotating a yarn strand in the form of a loop, means for pulling the strand forward, a strand guiding means on the flier, mechanism for detecting changes in the size of the loop comprising a circular member rotatably supported near the flier and coaxial thereof and adapted to be turned in one direction by torque derived from the flier, and means responsive to changes in the tension in the zone of the strand at the flier for governing the amount of torque applied to the circular member by the flier, and mechanism for controlling the size of the loop comprising means for yieldingly turning said circular member in the direction opposite the direction of rotation of the flier, and means controlled by the rotation of said circular member for controlling the size of the loop.

20. Apparatus for twisting a strand comprising a shaft having a flier for rotating a yarn strand in the form of a loop, means for pulling the strand forward, a strand guiding means on the flier, means to divert'a zone of the strand at the flier, mechanism for controlling the size of the loop comprising a circular member rotatably supported near the flier and coaxial thereof and adapted to be turned in one direction by torque derived from the flier, the torque applied to the circular member being governed by the tension of the strand in the said diverted zone of the strand at the flier, means for yieldingly turning said circular member in the opposite direction, and means controlled by the rotation of said circular member for controlling the size of the loop.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,503,242 Clarkson Apr. 11, 1950 2,550,136 Clarkson Apr. 24, 1951 2,689,449 Clarkson Sept. 21, 1954 2,729,051 Clarkson Jan. 3, 1956 

